Twenty-two hostages held by Muslim extremist guerrillas are alive two days into a military rescue operation in the southern Philippine island of Jolo, armed forces chief of staff General Angelo Reyes said Sunday.

"Reports about some of the hostages being dead or having been killed, in our assessment are rumors. We are exerting all efforts to have them verified and our efforts have shown us all these are false," he told a news conference.

None of the captives -- an American, two French journalists, three Malaysians and 16 Filipinos -- have been rescued so far -- ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP)